Question

Given the mass of carbon on the periodic table (12.01 amu), which isotope do you think is the most abundant? Explain WHY in complete sentences. *

Answer 1

Carbon-12

Step-by-step explanation:

Carbon-12 is a carbon with 6 protons and 6 neutrons. Since the AMU for an element is calculated by averaging all naturally occurring isotopes, we can see that 12 in the most abundant. (Since 12.01 is very close to 12, the only reason it is not exactly 12 is because there are other isotopes like carbon-13 or carbon-14 but in low amounts)